I am considering getting back into a Touareg. I sold my T3 TDI 2 years ago and bought a 2021 tiguan and prefer the treg. I would be going the VR6 route this time and wanted to know how the reliability is and if there are any big mantinance concerns. Any help is appreciated.
T3 VR6 reliability
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VR6 has always been stout. Less maintenance involved than a TDI by far
I happen to love my VR6. The known big issues taken care of already are PCV diaphragm in the valve cover, and....and... uhm that's it. All the rest were routine maintenance that one would have to take care of no matter whether it was a VR6 or TDI. IE: Brakes/Front + Rear diff fluids/Transfer case fluid/Transmission service/Leaking heater control valves/Spark plugs + Coil packs/And all the usual fluid drains and refills. I did have the shocks/struts changed because I felt it needed them.
The engine itself is pretty solid. Decent, not the best, gas mileage. Enough power for what I need it for.
What I like is no AdBlue to deal with, no turbo clogs to deal with.
Honestly I would recommend the VR6 over a TDI, but that's just me. BTW I've got ~ 105K on mine now.
The engine itself is pretty solid. Decent, not the best, gas mileage. Enough power for what I need it for.
What I like is no AdBlue to deal with, no turbo clogs to deal with.
Honestly I would recommend the VR6 over a TDI, but that's just me. BTW I've got ~ 105K on mine now.
I am a big believer that with a little luck, driving habits are a bigger determinant in overall reliability with a diesel than the fact it’s a diesel.
plenty of high mileage Treg TDIs who’ve experienced similarly problem-free driving as high mileage VR6 owners. It’s all in driving on the highway more often than not. The emissions system clogs when it’s driven around town more than 50% of the time. This is armchair data, obviously.
I drive my car 20K a year post-COVID, 25-30 before. I am eager to see how my TDI fares.
plenty of high mileage Treg TDIs who’ve experienced similarly problem-free driving as high mileage VR6 owners. It’s all in driving on the highway more often than not. The emissions system clogs when it’s driven around town more than 50% of the time. This is armchair data, obviously.
I drive my car 20K a year post-COVID, 25-30 before. I am eager to see how my TDI fares.
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My older 2007 has the 3.6 VR6 and it has been AMAZING. I was just thinking this week how it has now been through over 12 years of my marriage…owed it before I met my wife. My poor old lab is on his last leg and I owned it before him, I have four kids now with my wife, it has towed three of our travel trailers, countless utility trailers, motorcycle trailers, and other stuff. It has been in muddy fields, pulled itself out of ditches, endured hitting a curb at 30 mph without somehow damaging any suspension components, it has been in snow ice, and so much more. It has needed a center main bushing and a ton of batteries, tires, oil, and fuel. When I changed its spark plugs they looked brand new.
It has always gotten home on its own power, never left my stranded and has started EVERY time but one (dead battery) without issue. It has NEVER had a CEL on…not once (I hope I don’t jinks that).
It is a dog to drive, but is the most reliable vehicle I have every owned. Tuesday this week, in the middle of the night when we had to drive into town (rural USA) with my wife in labor this is the vehicle I choose because of the above and I also own a V8 Touareg and a new VW Atlas. I just trust it.
It has always gotten home on its own power, never left my stranded and has started EVERY time but one (dead battery) without issue. It has NEVER had a CEL on…not once (I hope I don’t jinks that).
It is a dog to drive, but is the most reliable vehicle I have every owned. Tuesday this week, in the middle of the night when we had to drive into town (rural USA) with my wife in labor this is the vehicle I choose because of the above and I also own a V8 Touareg and a new VW Atlas. I just trust it.
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1,219 Posts
Another boy. I now have three boys and one girl! 😊
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I haven't been on the Touareg Forum for several months as it was motorcycle season in Wisconsin up until the middle of last month. Anyway, I thought I'd add my two cents here. I bought a 2014 VR6 R-Line a few years ago with around 42,000 miles and tonight I just turned 80,000. I've had a grand total of zero problems with any aspect of the vehicle. I've done the recommended oil changes and replaced the tires and a few other things called for in the 50, 60 and 70k maintenance guidelines at a VW dealer but I haven't replaced the brakes yet as they seem fine and no service light has come on. I know when they go they go but that's what a service light and feel is for - if I replaced them when the dealer first suggested replacing them I'd have 20k on them right now! Engine-wise - not a single problem at all. I love the engine. It has plenty of power and whatever different shocks and struts are on the R-Line - they work. I did test ride a few sport versions of TDI's before I bought mine and I'll just say the handling is noticeably better in my R-Line. The ONLY thing I absolutely do not like about the vehicle is the premium fuel requirement. In Wisconsin it seems that premium is right around an even buck a gallon higher and at 26 gallons a tank - that's an extra $26 bucks (I'm really good at math...lol). If anyone sees this as late to the discussion as it is - great! Happy Holidays!
it doesn’t need premium. It’ll pull timing on 87 but maybe 5hp loss @ 6K RPM lol. Nothing lower down. It’s a conservatively tuned NA V6. The 2016-2017 day 87 on the cap on the same motor
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